Tunisia’s coast guard recovered the bodies of eight African migrants and rescued 29 survivors after their boat capsized off the coast near Abwabed, close to the city of Sfax, a key migration hub, a security official told Reuters on Monday, April 28, 2025.
The migrants were attempting the perilous journey across the Mediterranean toward Europe, part of a surge in departures fueled by poverty, conflict, and instability across sub-Saharan Africa. According to authorities, the overcrowded vessel likely sank due to poor sea conditions and structural deficiencies common among makeshift migrant boats.
Sfax has increasingly become a principal departure point, replacing parts of Libya as the main launching area for migrants. Tunisia, struggling with its own political and economic crises, faces an unprecedented migration wave, with thousands attempting the crossing each month. The tragedy highlights the growing humanitarian emergency in the central Mediterranean, where migrant deaths have risen sharply. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), over 2,500 migrants died or went missing on the central Mediterranean route in 2024, the highest toll since 2017.
Tunisian authorities have stepped up patrols and rescue efforts, but critics argue that without broader regional cooperation and safer legal migration channels, such tragedies are likely to continue.
